Wow, you're getting strong. T∴𝙹 commented as Xelqua joined them at a world. It was one coming to an end, the buildings were burning and thick smoke was swallowing the otherwise clear sky. Xelqua decided to start a thunderstorm, lighting the few remaining structures on fire with lightning (and one person).

Would you like to do the honours? Oリᒷ suggested. Xelqua looked at them eagerly: he'd only done it twice before and hadn't done it very well, but now he was more powerful.

Yes please. He replied.

I'll go too. Oリᒷ said, before they both glided down the mountain they were stood on and landed at the centre of the civilisation. There were three types of end to worlds: type one, where the players built their own portal and moved on, type two, where the Watchers built the portal for them, and type three, where what was about to happen happened.

Xelqua stood on spawn back to back with Oリᒷ and summoned a layer of purple fog that sat just above the ground like a much darker, thicker and deadlier mist. All the fires turned purple, and they made themselves visible. He let his wings pick him up off the ground, feeling Oリᒷ do the same as they prepared for what was about to happen; an act so strong and massive it took two Watchers to do, hence why Watchers came in pairs.

They glanced up to see that T∴𝙹 was off the ground as well before lighting their hands on fire and doing it.

They removed every block. Bedrock, stone, wood, concrete, obsidian, sand, everything. The purple smoke rushed downwards before disappearing completely, leaving them hovering in nothing but darkness.

Xelqua breathed a sigh of relief as the humans and animals fell into the void. He'd done it, properly, no blocks left at the world borders, nothing. Everything was gone.

Good, Oリᒷ said behind him. They flew to T∴𝙹 and summoned in a new portal - since their old one was destroyed alone with everything else - before ending up back at their home.

Xelqua had always hated the feeling that came next; tiredness.

Watchers didn't sleep, their immortal bodies didn't need it, especially with all the magic flowing through them. However, a big task like that drained them. It was odd to feel Oリᒷ's magical presence weaker than normal, but at least that meant he knew he wasn't the only one weakened.

His body felt tired, like none of his limbs wanted to move. The magical fire inside him was weak, flickering bluntly and lazily like a normal fire being deprived of oxygen. Using magic became tiring and like a chore rather than fun and like he didn't even have to think about it.

He slowly wandered over to his bedroom and lay down on the large bed, feeling his mask start to kick into action. It began to pour magic back into him, binding to what was left and recovering. His body began to numb and before he knew it, he was sinking into unconsciousness.

* * *

When he woke up, it was about three hours later (or equivalent to that). His eyes opened sharply and he suddenly found himself staring at the ceiling through his mask, a small smile spreading across his face. He felt even better. Stronger than before. Even more powerful.

It was odd, it normally took a few 'days' to be fully recovered, but he was fantastic after only a few hours. Deciding to treat himself to a different jumper (dark purple), he pulled the material over his head before going downstairs to where T∴𝙹 was.

You're awake, they said, that was quick. They were holding their staff, letting the phoenix sit atop and stroking it gently.

Most of the more powerful Watchers owned staffs. They were different colours depending on their owners personal preference; Oリᒷ's was white and T∴𝙹's was dark purple. At the top, it become a sort of upside down tear drop shape, some of the material in the sphere cut out to make different patterns, like an intricate cage, to show the purple flame that sat inside.

The fiery orb itself was a talisman of sorts. When the Watchers wanted or needed it, some of the fire would leave it's place and turn into a small living creature that was half made of the Watchers' DNA and half of pure magic. T∴𝙹's was a phoenix, and Oリᒷ's was a dragon.

They generally only used their staffs in dangerous or very magically draining situations, but they quite often let out their magical creature purely to make sure it wasn't lonely or to bond with it. They were like pets, in a way. Xelqua had always hoped that if he ever had one, it would be an eagle because they were good fliers like him.

Oリᒷ is still resting. T∴𝙹 said, smoothening out one of the firey bird's feathers.

I did less than half the work, Oリᒷ told T∴𝙹 later on, I think he might be overtaking us.

I agree, T∴𝙹 replied, glancing at Xelqua as he teased their phoenix with some purple fire. T⍑∷ᒷᒷ said to keep an eye on him last time we visited them.

Oリᒷ nodded vaguely.

* * *

"That's definitely him." Pearl said as she finished reading the page.

"How come he gets so powerful though?" Iskall asked.

"It doesn't matter." Mumbo muttered bitterly.

"What?" Evil X asked.

"Well it doesn't. He's gone. He clearly doesn't give a fuck about us. We'll never see him again, so why does it matter? Even if we do know more about him, it's not going to get him back, so what's the point?" Mumbo said quietly, on the verge of both anger and tears. "Exactly." He said a minute later when no one had replied.

* * *

Three weeks, five days and approximately 2 hours had passed since Grian left. The G-Train had long ago run out of stock, his base was lonely and unchanging, the Tegg game had finished without him, his red jumper was still in his starter base, left on the end of his bed.

Life went on without him, and it hurt. It felt like he was dead, gone forever, and they had no choice but to accept it. Everything felt messy and disorganised, no one was quite right, quite normal. What had happened hung over the hermits every day, in every conversation it was there, standing between them as they tried to converse. Every time they tried to build, it was there, watching from a short distance. Every time they flew, it was there next to them; the best flier on the server, gone.

Every hermit felt like they couldn't handle it anymore every day, but they had to. They couldn't magically make everything right again. They had to suffer through it because there were no other options, no ways around it.

Another day passed, then another, then a week, then a month. Nothing changed. They still counted the days and the hours, Grian was still not coming back, and with every day that he didn't, it became clearer and clearer.

* * *

You need to stop him from getting stronger. T⍑∷ᒷᒷ said, sitting across the table from Oリᒷ and T∴𝙹.

We what? T∴𝙹 replied, glancing and Oリᒷ.

You heard what I said. T⍑∷ᒷᒷ said, a strange tone in their voice.

Why? Oリᒷ asked, ignoring what they thought could possibly be threat.

He will get too strong. They answered. T∴𝙹 and Oリᒷ glanced at each other, neither quite sure what to make of it.

Too strong? T∴𝙹 repeated, emphasising the 'too' questioningly.

Yes. You must do something to stop him, limit his practise, make his mask malfunction... something. They said, glaring at the two weaker Watchers from behind their mask.

No. Oリᒷ replied forcefully. He's done nothing wrong, even if he does-

Quiet. T⍑∷ᒷᒷ interrupted. I am telling you to do this, you know what happens to Watchers who disobey me.

Tell us why, and then we'll do it. T∴𝙹 said, taking a page out of Xelqua's book and questioning things.

Because if he keeps going at the rate he is, he'll be uncontrollable. T⍑∷ᒷᒷ replied. Oリᒷ and T∴𝙹 stared at him for a moment.

He doesn't need controlling. T∴𝙹 said.

He's part human. T⍑∷ᒷᒷ replied.

Doesn't matter. We refuse to limit him. Oリᒷ said with finality.

If you won't then I will.

We won't let you. T∴𝙹 replied, standing up, the other two Watchers doing the same.

Then you'll face the consequences. T⍑∷ᒷᒷ said as they walked out of the room.

You can't hurt us. Oリᒷ replied, but even they knew it wasn't true. T⍑∷ᒷᒷ chuckled, they were much more powerful than the pair combined.

Oリᒷ and T∴𝙹 took off and flew in the direction of their home.